Howard s



H. S. McBRIDE.

DECORATIVE LIGHTING.

APPLICATION men APR. 25. mu.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

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PATENT ornion.

HOWARD S. MGBRIDE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DECORATIVE LIGHTING-L Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed April 25, 1918. Serial No. 230,702.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD S. MCBRIDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Decorative Lighting, of which the following is a specification.

' vThis inventionrelates to improvements in decorative lighting and more particularly to the formation of an illuminated patriotic service emblem device adapted for use in connection with motor vehicles.

The present invention is designed for the purpose of providing an illuminated decoration at this point, the lights employed being preferably, although not essentially, given movements in a more or less circular path during travel of the automobile. In addition, the purpose of the invention is to provides. decoration of this type which is simple and efficient in operation, durable in construction, capable of operating under low power conditions, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention applied to an automobile hood.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same, parts being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view.

Fig. 4% is a detail sectional view.

In the drawings, H indicates the hood of an automobile carrying the usual radiator filling tube T and radiator cap C.

The invention as shown is of the type adapted to provide for movement of the lamps, and the device is shown as supported by tube T through the use of a suitable member 10, one end 11 of which is arranged to bedetachably secured to tube T, as by a clamping action, another end of member 10 forming the support for the device. However, as presently pointed out, lamp movemerit may be omitted, if desired.

The embodiment shown e p ys a me tallic casting 12 which is secured, as by threading, to an insulating member 13 secured in member 10, member 12 being adapted to be connected to one side of a battery or other suitable source of electrical supply (not shown) by suitable means, such for instance as a binding post, indicated at 14. Member 12 is of suitable configuration, shown somewhat as in the nature of a hollow casting carrying an annular portion or annulus 12 of greater diameter than the portion of the casting secured to member 13, the walls of member 12 being more or less flared outwardlyin an upward direction.

Mounted to project upwardly from member 13 is a stem 15, to the lower end of which is secured connections leading from the opposite side of the battery, it being understood that insulated member 13, serves to insulate stem 15 from member 12, the stem and member also being insulated from supporting member 10 in suitable manner. Stem 15, in its simplest form, is preferably non-rotatable, being provided with an-enlargement 15 on which is loosely supported the lamp-carrier, the latter being 1n the form of a sheet metal structure comprising a plate 16 having a plurality of depending arms or supports 16, these arms projecting down to approximately the plane of the top of annulus 12. Plate 16 is of small diameter as compared to ring or annulus 12", and hence arms 16 are located spaced from said ring, these arms or depending supports being more or less rigid in structure. Each arm or depending support preferably carries a lamp-supporting element in the form of a lamp socket 17 and a supporting member 18 secured to the socket and having an arm 18 which is pivotally connected to the depending support 16. While prefer to employ a socket which will perm1t of ready substitution of one lamp for another, this may be varied as may be the particular form of socket employed, that shown being in the form of a bayonet slot structure.

Various ways of completmg the circult through the lamp maybe employed, that shown in the drawings,and more particularly in Fig. 4, being designed to provlde an efficient operation and at the same time permit of rotative action presently referred to without excessive wear. This particular arrangement provides for locating an insu- ,lating member 19 within and forming part cket 17 sejigi m mber 19 earry e Casi adapted to ride onring '12, the latter being" Contact normally engaging 'a lam:

and resting onannulus 12 15 1 e I As shown, a plurality of depending suping within which is mounted a pin 21 adapted to normally contact with one of the lamp terminals through the action of a spring 22 which is interposed between one end of pin 21 and a ball 23 which projects" from the opposite end of casing20 and, is

preferably, although not essentially, pros vided with an annular race 12 to cooperate with'the balls in providing for anti-frictionaction. Obviously, pin 21, casing 20, ball 23 and spring 22 constitute a yieldable p terminal A lampis indicated at L.

ports 16' are employed, these being'shown as spaced at substantiallyequal, distances, each support carrying its lamp-supporting element, these elements extending practically radially "with respect "to- 'theaxi's of stem I 15','so that there isprovided an arrange- V .ment embodying a pluralityof lamps in spaced apart relation, each lamp being electric'ally' connected to stem 15 through plate 16jand its depending supports 16*, supportmg arm 18 and socket 17, the opposite terminal of; the lamp-being electrically conn'ected to the oppositeside of the battery through the yielding contact, oasting 12 and its ring 12*; 1 Hence, as long as eitherof the 7 balls 23 remains in contact with ring 12*,

the circuit will be complete through the l mp; Since each lamp, however, has its support pivotally mounted, itwill be understood that there-is more or less flexibility in the connections Which will permit the lamp support to swing in a direction of yield in case material jolting of the automobile 'may take place, thus reducing liability of damageto the lamp filament, the upward swinging movement breaking' the circuit.

On the return movement,the yielding contact will tend to cushion the jar which might be placed on the element.

Stem 1:5 preferably extends above the top of plate'16, and forms a support for an element of suitable" configuration and preferably secured to plate 16, this element being imitation of a service flag, thus formingan emblem structure. v

' As will be understood, plate 16 is loosely supported on-enlargement15 and in order to retain it in position-as well as to permit of sufiicient yielding under jolting =action, I preferably provide means for yieldably :re-

staining it in its normal position, this means being shown as in the form of a spring 26 .mounted above emblem 25 and interposed,

between washers 27 carried at theupper end ofthe st'em, the latter carrying an adjusting nut .28 by means ofwhich the tensiongof spring 26 can be regulated- This permits for retaining plate 16 in itsnormal posi- 'tion, but also to tend to provide aafriction factor :in connection with-therotation of spring 26 to operate not only as a means:-

theemblem, thus reducing the speed -of ro tation of the latter and hence of plate 16 and.

the lamps which are rotated thereby. As will .be understood, rotation of the emblem will cause the lamps'tofltravel-in a the electrical circuitjrbetween member 12 and stem' 15,;:the' particular 7 manner in which the lamps are supported placing them in circular path, eachlamp;v beingincluded in f parallel relationgwith respectfto the circuit, so that more or less flexibility in operation is. provided in use.

p "The lamps arepreferably of difierent colors, the three shown in the drawings be mg indicated as of the colors red, white and blue, thus providing an ornamental effect which 1s materiallyincreased as they are caused to travel, in a circular path, especially I when .the movement is not too rapid.

As will be understood, the pivoted lamp' CZLITIGISVVELI'B more or less weighted in order to normally retain? balls 23in position to complete the circuit, any suitable means for providing the weight being adapted for use. While plate 16-3and depending supports 16 are held underthe restraintjof spring I 7 27 as to movement on the stem, thuspracti-r cally fixing the inner ends of arms 18-the farms are freeitoswingon their pivots, being restrained only by the weighted formation, so as to provide for safety against theeffect A of jars and jolts damaging the lamps;

As will be understood,xduring the period I when the automobile is stationary and the velocity of'the wind is insuflioient to rotate the emblem, the lamps remain lighted but are stationary,' thus giving a decorative effect to a standing automobile,land,if desired, 1 5 I. may retain this feature permanently by making plate "16and the, emblem as separate structures, as by locating awasher,

therebetween, thus permitting the :emblem 25 to have its rotative movementswithout] communicating these movements to the lamp structures. In e1thercase,however, it will be readily understood that thestructureis of a type which issufficiently flexible in character-as to reduce liability of damage tothe lamps to lthe minimum in the presence of jolts or other actions of the automobile,

and at the'same time provide for automatic completing of the =C1'IClllt to a lamp whenever the circuit has been broken through tlieqjolting action; such jolting action gnay tiire is of a simple and efficient type, while the; lamps are of a size'which can be operated from an'ordinary battery structure. -As will be understood, the relative locationfof' the emblem andlamp or lamps is suchas 'to expose the emblem in the light- -zone"of-the=lamp or lamps. As a result, -the lamp may serve as an illuminating means for the emblem, an arrangement par ticularly adapted for use as an illuminated patriotic service emblem attachment comprising a supporting structure, 'an electric lamp carried thereby, an emblem supported .by the structure, the parts being relatively located to permit exposure of the emblem within thelight zone of the lamp.

l \Vhile I'have herein shown and described one or more'pr'eferred embodiments of the invention, itwill be readily understood that changes and modifications therein maybe found desirable or essential in meeting the exigencies of use, and I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be founddesirable or necessary, in so -far. asthe same may fall within the splrit'and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

" VVhat I claim is:

lxIn decorative lighting apparatus and in combination, a stem, a lamp carrler a mounted on the stem, a plurality of lamps supported by said carrier with each lamp :1; swingingly upported, a -member extending withinthe path of swinging movement of the lamps and. adapted to normally 'maintain the lamps in a predetermined plane,

saidstem and member being insulated from V each other, means forconnecting said member and stem to a source of electricalsupply, anda support insulated from the stemand me r. a

2, In decorative lighting apparatus and in combination, a stem, a lamp carrier mounted on the stem, a plurality of lamps supported by said ca'rrier with each lamp swingingly supported, a member extending within the path of swinging movement of the lamps and adapted to normally maintain the lamps in a predetermined plane, said stem and member being insulated from each other, means for connecting said member and stem to a source of electrical supply, a rotatable ornament carried by the stem above the lamp carrier, and a support insulated from the stem and member.

3. In decorative lighting apparatus and I in combination, a stem, a lamp carrier mounted on the stem, a plurality of lamps supported by said carrier with each lamp swingingly supported, a member carrying an annulus wlthm the path of swinglng movement of the lamps andadapted to nor-' the lamps and adapted to normall unaintain the lamps in a predeterminec plane, said stem and member being insulated from each other, means for connecting said member and stem to a source of electrical supply, a rotatable element mounted on the stem and connected to-said carrier to rotate the latter duringelement rotation, and a support insulated from the stem and member.

. 5. Indecorative lighting apparatus and in combination, a stem, a-lanip carrier supported thereby, a plurality of lamps, a mem ber insulated from the stem and carrying an annulus, means for connecting said stem and member to a source ofelectrical supply, and means for supporting th'elamps individually on the carrier, with each lamp having a contact normallyresting on said annulus to complete the lamp circuit, said means permitting free movement of'the lamp, to preak such circuit betwefen'contact and annuin combination, a stem, a lamp carrier mounted on the stem andcomprisinga rigid structure having depending elements and a plurality of lamp-carrying arms 'pivotally connected to said elements to permit swinging movements of the arms, a member extending within the path of swinging movement of said arms and adapted to form a support upon which the lamp arm s may rest and to maintain the lamps in a predetermined plane, a support, means for connecting said member and stem to a source of electrical decorative lighting apparatus and 6. In decorative lighting apparatus and 

